Dr Joshua Bolarinwa, an Associate Professor and Head of the Division of Security and Strategic Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NII), had argued that the withdrawal of Niger from the MNJTF was not surprising. In a tweet on the implications of Niger’s withdrawal from the multinational joint task force, Dr Bolarinwa said, “The MNJTF has significantly broadened its operations since its establishment in 1998 and subsequent re-activation in 2015 in order to address the security risks posed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
With a strengthened force of approximately 10,000 soldiers, the coalition’s mandate was to eradicate the Boko Haram extremist group, which has conducted several violent campaigns against Nigeria and the entire Lake Chad Basin. However, as a result of the MNJTF’s vigorous operations and their widespread military offensives, the menace of Boko Haram drastically reduced. “The MNJTF conducted its inaugural significant operation in 2016. Notwithstanding significant obstacles, it achieved substantial progress in combating the Boko Haram insurgency. With coordinated military actions, it liberated territories and hostages and successfully neutralised a significant number of Boko Haram insurgents, retrieved weapons, and dismantled several Boko Haram training camps. The efficacy of the MNJTF was acknowledged by the United Nations Department for Political Affairs for its successes in curbing the insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
“The withdrawal of Niger from the MNJTF was not surprising, given the coup that took place on 26 July 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended and placed several sanctions on Niger. It is widely believed that, due to the ECOWAS sanctions, demands, conditions and the threat of using force on the junta if diplomacy fails, might have led to the withdrawal of its soldiers from the borders.
However, the head of the Nigerien military junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani refuted the withdrawal from MNJTF by stating, that “Niger is still a member of MNJTF”. Niger is landlocked and shares boundaries with seven countries-Algeria to the north (951 km), Libya to the northeast (342 km), Chad to the east (1,196 km), Benin to the southwest (277 km), Burkina Faso to the south (622 km), Mali to the west (838 km), Nigeria to the south (1,608 km). The Nigeria-Niger border is the longest, which fosters interactions and interdependence in trade, security, and cultural exchanges.
The withdrawal of Niger from the MNJTF will create a void that may increase the level of terrorist and insurgency activity “The absence of military patrols at the borders may provide Boko Haram and other insurgent groups, especially ISWAP with additional incentives to escalate their attacks. In fact, the absence of Niger will create a void, leading to an increase in attacks on the outskirts of Lake Chad and the influx of a substantial number of weapons and militants from the Sahel and ISIS, based in North Africa.
If it contributes to a resurgence of terrorism and insurgency, by implication it may result in a big setback on the earlier successes recorded by the MNJTF. Niger has been a significant participant in the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency endeavours at both regional and global scales, which should be encouraged to continue. In a recent report, several areas in the region, particularly Gaidam in Yobe State, Mallam Fatori, and Damasak near Lake Chad, are experiencing a continuous and consistent influx of foreign combatants due to porous and unguarded borders as a result of Niger withdrawing its soldiers from those points.
“The withdrawal of Niger from the MNJTF, creates a void that will increase the likelihood of heightened terrorism and insurgency, undermines the accomplishments of the MNJTF, and emphasises the necessity of ongoing regional cooperation in response to shifting security challenges. A great setback to the current counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency endeavours. It will not only undermine the collective security arrangement, but also Niger’s internal security, the security of its neighbours and the entire Sahel. Thus, it is crucial to enhance diplomatic efforts, bolster regional collaboration, and explore opportunities for Niger’s reintegration for cohesion and effective response to the security challenges.
After almost two-and-a-half years, and during the most successful period in the club's history, our head coach, @XabiAlonso, will leave #Bayer04 at the end of the season.
Emirates Group has released its 2024-25 Annual Report, with Emirates reporting the best result in its history to become the world’s most profitable airline.
For the financial year ended March 31, 2025, the Emirates Group reported a record profit before tax of $6.2 billion, up 18 per cent from last year and a record revenue of $39.6 billion.
The level of cash assets also climbed to $14.6 billion, a 13 per cent increase from the previous year.
Both Emirates and Dubai National Air Travel Agency, dnata, contributed record revenues in 2024-25.
Emirates, which earned its place as the world’s most profitable airline, reported a record profit before tax of $5.8 billion, up 20 per cent from last year and a record revenue of $34.9 billion.
It also reported its highest-ever level of cash assets at $13.5 billion, 16 per cent higher compared to March 31, 2024.
The group declared a dividend of $1.6 billion to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai, ICD.
This is the first financial year that the UAE corporate tax, enacted in 2023, is applied to the Emirates Group. After accounting for the 9 per cent tax charge, the Group’s profit after tax is $5.6 billion.
Speaking on the development, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and group, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: “It is no accident that Dubai has produced hugely successful global aviation entities including Emirates and dnata. Dubai’s aviation sector has become an influential force on the global stage thanks to visionary leaders, strategic planning, co-ordinated execution, and strong support from our customers, business partners, and all the people of Dubai.
“When the government set up Emirates 40 years ago and we began expanding dnata’s capabilities to support the city’s growth, we had a clear mission – be the best at what we do; and deliver value to Dubai, our stakeholders, and the communities we serve.
“With that in mind, we’ve kept a laser focus on providing great products and services, and we continually invest in technology and talent to increase our competitive edge. We look after our people and our customers, and we work hard to positively impact our communities. We don’t cut corners, and we don’t take shortcuts that put our future at risk for short term gains. By building our business models around these principles and Dubai’s unique strengths, the Emirates Group has thrived and stayed resilient through geo-political and socio-economic challenges over the years.
“For 2024-25, the Emirates Group has raised the bar to set new records for profit, revenue, and cash assets. Through the year, Emirates and dnata were able to move quickly to meet the strong demand for air transport services across markets and win over customers – thanks to our non-stop investments in our people, in building partnerships, and in delivering great products and services.”
On the outlook for 2025-26, Sheikh Ahmed said: “We enter the year ahead with excitement and optimism. Our excellent financial standing enables us to continue building on and scaling up our successful business models. While some markets are jittery about trade and travel restrictions, volatility is not new in our industry. We simply adapt and navigate around these challenges.
“Emirates will strengthen our network connectivity with the expected delivery of 16 A350s and 4 Boeing 777 freighters in 2025-26, providing much-needed capacity to meet customer demand. Our retrofit programme will continue apace to provide our customers the latest Emirates products and a more consistent experience across our A380, 777 and A350 fleet.
“dnata is on a steady growth path with facility investments coming to fruition in key markets, including the opening of new facilities in Amsterdam, Dubai and Erbil next year which will significantly expand our cargo handling capacity and capabilities.
“Work is already underway at the new Al Maktoum International airport, DWC, and broader development around Dubai South. Our planning teams are working closely with Dubai airports and other entities to design and deliver the future of aviation and the best possible travel experiences.
“We’ve set high targets for ourselves, but I am confident that our talented workforce and Dubai’s winning formula will empower the Emirates Group to forge an even brighter future, and deliver even more value to the people, cities and communities we serve.”
Since the Nigerian presidency has devoted itself to responding to every criticism of the government and its administrative failings, it is unsurprising that media aide Bayo Onanuga faulted the recent claim by the outgoing President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, that Nigerians lived a better life in the 1960s going by the GDP per capita. Onanuga argued that Dr Adesina should know that GDP per capita is not the only criterion used to determine whether people live better lives now than in the past. Indeed, it is a poor tool for assessing living standards. Its primary usefulness is in giving us the metrics to compare economic output in a country or between countries. Then he adds that today, as we await the NBS’s recalibration of our GDP, we can comfortably say without contradiction that it is at least 50 times, if not 100 times, more than it was at Independence.
What Onanuga has done here is to spill a lot of needless ink to arrive at the same spot where he started. If the GDP is not a reliable marker of economic growth and development, why still wait for a favourable NBS figure to contradict Adesina?
In any case, the two truths that might be operating here might not be mutually contradictory. Statistics can show growth since 1960, while Nigerians qualitatively live far less than they did 60 years ago. On that score, Onanuga is right that numbers are not the only means of scaling a society’s achievements. Figures objectively calculate how an average person lives (or lived) but do not paint the full picture of the internal substance of such a life. If we want to get to the truth, we must also probe social experience. In this case, we can ask the people who lived in the 1960s what their lives were like and how their experience compares to the present.
Now this is where it gets tricky. If you line up one thousand Nigerians who have lived through the various seasons of the nation’s history and ask them if the country was better in the 1960s, I can bet that there will be far more who would agree that the country used to be better. Why is that so? First, because human memory is prone to recall the past with nostalgia, and that makes for pessimism about the conditions of the present. The human brain is wired to scan the arc of personal history and promote the positive recollections of the past over those of the immediate present. It is sometimes called the declinism bias, and it is not peculiar to Nigerians. You find the echoes of the “good old days” in the “Make America Great Again” politics where a section of United States citizens thinks the old times were better than now when by every parameter, they are a richer and stronger country.
But in the case of Nigeria, people know what they are saying when they look back wistfully at the past and declare that life used to be better. I have older friends in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Their recollection of how life used to be in Nigeria sometimes feels like the vision of the Nigeria I would love to see. If they are of the formally educated class, these folks would fondly recall the Nigeria where they received a sound education at all levels. Public schools were not as dilapidated; nobody ever recalls where students sat on the floor in their roofless classrooms. Public education was so good that the children of the elites attended the same schools as everyone else. You could be a poor village boy from rural Igbomina and attend Government College with the children of the powerful. Education was not as cheapened through private schools.
Those who made it to the university among them would recall receiving an education in the true sense of the word. Nobody needed to go to school abroad; Nigerian universities offeredworld-class education. They would recall a university system where the hostels were not crammed with students; the facilities worked, and undergraduates lived like actual human beings, unlike the appalling situation that subsists on most campuses. That was, of course, the generation that also had a quarter chicken for lunch on Sundays. People would also recall that fresh university graduates had jobs waiting for them after school, and you could buy a car with your salary. Whether they are educated or not, everyone can recall a time when the country was safe and secure, and one could travel through its length and breadth without fearing abduction by Fulani herdsmen. While the past might not be as picture-perfect as generally painted, there is enough substance in people’s recollections to demonstrate how much we have declined. The Nigeria some of us dream of living in has already been lived out by our forebears, imagine!
So yes, while the rebased GDP figures will expectedly look better, there is a lot of decline in the quality of our Nigerian life. Why do we even need to go as far as the 1960s to apprehend what has happened to our Nigerian lives? There are closer examples of a lack of progress. We are a country that once produced as much as 7,000MW of electricity in 2014. In 2025 and with multiple grid collapses, we struggle with 5,500MW. The Nigerian population has increased, and with it the demand for electricity, but the supply has only declined. Does anyone really need the GDP per capita to divine how a country that cannot sustain its modest gains would suffer socially and economically? An older relative once told me that the Energy Corporation of Nigeria—the company that supplied power in their youth—used to give an advance notification if there would be a power outage. Tell that to the generation of young Nigerians who have never lived in a world without the crazy hum of a generator bursting through their brains, and they would think you are lying.
Electricity is one aspect; the general state of public infrastructure is another. A generation has never witnessed a Nigeria where public utilities worked. Ask the young person living in Nigeria, where the GDP is supposedly 50 to 100 times better—a la Onanuga—if they know that we used to get water supply from a public water corporation, and they would perhaps be genuinely surprised. Look at places like our hospitals, especially the public ones, where people complement the paltry services they receive there with prayers and tell us how much better we have it. Even our leaders cannot entrust their lives to the public hospitals they fund. The slightest malady, and they are already on their way to France or the UK to receive proper healthcare.
In 2023, I visited the University College Hospital, Ibadan and what I saw there is a story best not told. Yes, the GDP must have multiplied about a hundred times since UCH was first founded in 1952, but nothing in that hospital currently reflects it. You can say the same for every aspect of our Nigerian lives. We have added many more zeroes to our national statistics, but our lives remain internally empty. Whereas countries like China and the UAE that lifted a huge percentage of their population out of poverty do not rely on media aides like Onanuga to sàlàyé progress on social media with spurious figures. Unlike our own situation, their results speak for themselves.
Manufacturers in Nigeria have reported a loss of N1.91bn due to foreign exchange volatility in the first quarter of 2025, as revealed by their unaudited financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025.
Some of the companies include Nascon Allied Plc, BUA Cement, Nigerian Breweries, Dangote Cement, Vitafoam Nigeria, Beta Glass, and Berger Paints.
Nascon Allied reported a foreign exchange loss of N55.38m in the first quarter of 2025, a significant improvement from the N3.06bn loss recorded during the same period in 2024. The reduction in FX losses for Nascon Allied signals a positive shift amidst a volatile forex environment.
BUA Cement recorded a foreign exchange loss of N262.71m for the first three months of 2025, a notable contrast to the N1.11bn gain it posted in the same period last year. This marks a 123.6 per cent drop in forex gains for the company, reflecting the tough economic conditions impacting cement manufacturers.
At Nigerian Breweries, the company reported a foreign exchange loss of N178.01m, showing a 144.3 per cent improvement compared to a staggering loss of N72.85bn during the first quarter of 2024.
Dangote Cement recorded a forex loss of N11.84m for the first quarter of 2025, a stark contrast to the N410.36m gain posted in the same period last year. This represents a significant 102.9 per cent decline in foreign exchange gains, reflecting the broader challenges faced by the company in managing foreign currency volatility.
Equity market gains N413bn as Beta Glass leads rally Vitafoam Nigeria experienced a foreign exchange loss of N1.31bn in the first quarter of 2025, marking a steep increase from the N47.18m loss recorded in the same period last year. This represents a 2,687.7 per cent rise in forex losses, a substantial impact on the company’s financial performance due to currency fluctuations.
Beta Glass reported a foreign exchange loss of N94.22m for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a much smaller loss of N21.98m in 2024. This shows an increase of 329.2 per cent in foreign exchange losses, indicating the challenges faced by the glass manufacturing sector amid currency instability.
Berger Paints posted a minor foreign exchange loss of N768, a slight deviation from the zero loss recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
The total foreign exchange loss for the listed manufacturing companies in the first quarter of 2025 stands at N1.91bn, a stark contrast to the N3.06bn loss recorded in the same period of 2024. This represents a 37.8 per cent reduction in the overall forex loss for the manufacturing sector.
The PUNCH reported that six companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited recorded a combined foreign exchange loss of N255.72bn in their financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed insinuations that he was planning to dump the party for ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking with PDP women members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, who visited him to help save the party from total collapse, the former Vice President insisted on a coalition to push out the APC-led government in 2027.
Atiku Abubakar said that the coalition movement was not just a political strategy, but a necessity to challenge the ruling party and rebuild the country.
Vanguard gathered that Atiku told the women, led by the former Minister of Women Affairs and ex- National Women Leader of the party, Hajia Inna Ciroma, that a coalition is workable, and would assure good results.
According to him, the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, the ruling party in the Second Republic, had formed an alliance with the Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, and it was called NPN-NPP accord.
He added that when the coalition is achieved, the name of PDP will not be affected.
Atiku Abubakar was said to have told the PDP women about the status of the pan-Nigerian coalition that he was building in conjunction with other leaders and stakeholders across political divides and regions.
He informed them that the movement was being powered by Nigerians desirous of reclaiming and rebuilding their country from across the nooks and crannies of our country.
What he told us – PDP women
When Vanguard called the leader of the PDP women BoT on the nature of the visit, Ciroma said: “We, as PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, members, the conscience of the party, decided to take this bold decision to come into the crisis the party is going through.
“We, as mothers, are worried and disturbed with what the party is going through at the moment. We are disturbed that the party has no leadership and any organisation without leadership cannot stand.
“We are worried and disturbed. We cannot fold our hands and see things go bad in our great party.
“We decided to visit former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to complain about what we are not happy with, to brainstorm with him on the way forward, on how to save the party from total collapse.
“We told him that there must be leadership and direction in the party. We had very fruitful discussions with the 2023 Presidential candidate of the party.
“He told us that he was not leaving the party, as he discussed much on the coalition and the need for us to key in.
“We also discussed party funding; that parties should be well funded so that no single parson can control the party.
“Based on funding, parties must belong to the people and everyone has a role to play in the growth of the party.”
… defections, crisis
Recall that disturbed by the persistent internal strife both before and after the 2023 elections, leading to increasing instability and divisions across the Party, PDP, women members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, moved in last week to save the party from what they described as total collapse.
Also following the gale of defections sweeping through the ranks and strongholds of the country’s leading opposition party, PDP, the BoT women took it upon themselves to help address the wave of defections and other internal crises that have plagued the party over the past years.
As part of the moves, the women last week Tuesday began the mission by having a marathon meeting with the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, for over one and half hours at Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat.
In order to achieve this, the BoT women constituted a team that will reach out to PDP governors, leaders, stakeholders and other members to discuss the problems, why the crisis and the way forward.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has said Nigeria is assuming a continental leadership role in the race to electrify Africa, with a bold target to help provide electricity to 300 million Africans by the year 2030.
The Speaker has also praised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a $1 billion financing initiative for the Rural Electrification Agency in December 2024.
Abbas spoke while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, chaired by Hon Afam Ogene, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Lagos on Monday.
According to him, Nigeria’s involvement in the Mission 300 Initiative, a collaborative effort with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, exemplifies its commitment to advancing clean and inclusive energy access across Africa.
Abbas said this initiative is a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s leadership on the continental stage.
“On the continental stage, Nigeria has assumed a leadership role. Through our participation in the Mission 300 Initiative with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, we are working to provide electricity to three hundred million Africans by 2030.
“While progress has been made, the road ahead requires sustained effort. The success of this transition depends on coherent actions across all institutions. Legislators must establish sound legal foundations. The executive must implement with integrity and urgency. The private sector must invest in innovation and scale. Civil society must foster awareness, inclusion and accountability. This conference, therefore, provides an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment,” he said.
Abbas urged that the momentum built so far should not be allowed to dissipate and urged that the resolutions should lead to concrete outcomes, including model legislation, greater investments, and the adoption of new technologies.
The Speaker used the platform to reaffirm Nigeria’s internal strides toward a clean energy transition. He highlighted the legislative reforms championed by the 10th House of Representatives, including the recent establishment of a Standing Committee on Renewable Energy, which coordinates national efforts in expanding access to clean power.
“Our legislative agenda recognizes energy reform as central to our national priorities. Strategic Objective 8.5 aims to promote renewable energy development while ensuring access, efficiency, and environmental responsibility,” he said.
Among recent legislative milestones, he cited the House’s passage of new tax reform bills that eliminate Value Added Tax (VAT) on renewable energy components and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technologies. These reforms, he said, are designed to stimulate private investment and enhance affordability in the clean energy sector.
He said the House is also working to provide legal backing for Nigeria’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (REEEP) of 2015, a framework that seeks to boost renewable energy adoption, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy efficiency nationwide.
Speaker Abbas noted that the urgency to transition to clean energy is no longer optional, citing global energy trends that show a decisive shift toward renewables. He noted that in 2024, renewable energy accounted for over 92 percent of new global power generation capacity, driven primarily by solar and wind, bringing the world’s total installed capacity to over 4,448 gigawatts, a 15% year-on-year increase.
He also referenced international investment figures from 2023, where $1.7 trillion of the $2.8 trillion total global energy investment was directed toward renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric mobility.
“This is a structural reorientation of the global energy economy,” Abbas said. “Nigeria must align with this reality to stay relevant, competitive, and environmentally responsible.”
He pointed to legislative successes in countries such as Egypt, Germany, and members of the European Union, where robust legal frameworks have accelerated clean energy expansion. He called for African parliaments to emulate such examples through strong laws, decentralized energy strategies, and support for independent power producers.
Speaker Abbas commended the Tinubu administration for key energy policy reforms, particularly the Electricity Act of 2023, which devolved control over the power sector to sub-national governments, thus encouraging localized energy solutions and private-sector participation.
He said of the $1 billion approved by the President Tinubu, $750 million is earmarked for expanding solar access in underserved areas, resulting in the deployment of 124 mini-grids and over 25,000 solar home systems, benefiting more than 200,000 Nigerians.
“Such bold investments are game-changers,” the Speaker said. “They show what is possible when policy, financing, and legislation align.”
The Speaker reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to its Energy Transition Plan, which lays out a path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. He also welcomed the launch of the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy in March 2025, aimed at unlocking climate finance and enhancing project viability.
He emphasized that legislative support, policy innovation, and private-sector engagement are all required for the success of Nigeria’s green transition.
Abbas said that legislators must enact and enforce strong legal foundations, while the executive branch must implement these policies with urgency and integrity.
“The private sector must invest boldly, and civil society must foster awareness, inclusion, and accountability,” he added.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the conference to develop concrete resolutions, model legislation, and partnerships that will deliver tangible results.
The New York State Catholic Conference has condemned former U.S. President Donald Trump for posting an AI-generated image depicting himself dressed as the Pope.
The organisation, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops in engaging government on matters of law and social justice, expressed outrage over the post.
In a statement shared Saturday on X, the Catholic Conference wrote: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President.
“We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us.”
The controversial image, which appeared on Trump’s Truth Social platform and was later reposted by the White House’s official X account, shows him in elaborate papal attire — flowing white robes, a golden crucifix, and a mitre — with one finger raised toward the sky.
The digitally altered photo sparked a mix of amusement, disbelief, and heated debate across social media platforms.
The post came just days after Trump told reporters, apparently in jest, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” when asked whom he would support as the next pontiff.
His remark came shortly before the start of the papal conclave convened to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
Trump was present at Pope Francis’ funeral last week, marking his first international appearance since returning to public office.
US President Trump Sacks National Security Adviser, Michael Waltz Over Alleged Leak Of Sensitive Information
The United States President, Donald Trump, has sacked his National Security Adviser, Michael Waltz, for mistakenly adding a journalist to a highly sensitive Signal group chat detailing planned military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Daily Mail confirmed Waltz’s removal, marking the first cabinet-level dismissal of Trump’s second term.
The scandal, dubbed “Signalgate,” erupted after Atlantic editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally added to a chat involving 17 senior officials.
Goldberg later published the full content of the messages, triggering widespread condemnation and intense media scrutiny.
A source told the Daily Mail that Waltz’s departure was expected, and Trump is likely to make a formal announcement soon.
Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy who has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is being considered as a potential replacement.
“This has to do about competence, not ideology,” journalist Mark Halperin said on his 2Way YouTube show. He added, “I do believe he has made up his mind, but he could change his mind.”
Halperin reported “unhappiness throughout the national security establishment” with Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, over the breach.
Waltz had kept his position for weeks despite the fallout, appearing on Fox and Friends Thursday morning to praise a new minerals deal with Ukraine as “good for the American taxpayer” and “good for Ukraine.”
He also attended a Cabinet meeting hosted by Trump on Wednesday.
The mistake seriously damaged Waltz’s credibility.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, he tried to explain how Goldberg ended up in the group, saying, “Well, if you have somebody else's contact and then it, and then somehow it gets sucked in.”
Trump previously held back from firing Waltz, reportedly to avoid giving Goldberg the satisfaction.
But in a recent interview with The Atlantic, the president gave a tepid endorsement: “Waltz is fine. I mean, he’s here. He just left this office. He’s fine. He was beat up also.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, revealed that only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students in various tertiary institutions instead of N100 billion released to the schools.
The anti-graft agency specifically said its preliminary investigations have uncovered that not less than N71.2 billion have been diverted by the management of different universities who had taken custody of funds.
The spokesman of the commission, Demola Bakare, told journalists in Abuja that key stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Budget Office and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been invited.
Bakare also disclosed that senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NELFUND were invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.
Daily Trust reports that the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, had two weeks raised the alarm that the universities were trying to sabotage the Tinubu-led government on the students’ loan scheme.
Issa-Onilu alleged that no fewer than 51 tertiary institutions were implicated in illegal deductions and exploitation related to the NELFUND scheme, while calling on the anti-graft agencies to unravel the fraud and halt it.
Similarly, reports from the media also alleged that these institutions were said to have made unauthorized deductions ranging from N3,500 to N30,000 from each student’s institutional fees received through the loan fund.
Giving an update on the issue, the ICPC spokesman explained that the commission had since swung into action following the alarm, adding that those found culpable would be brought to book.
Bakare said, “The Commission confirmed that its Chairman’s Special Task Force immediately swung into action upon receiving the report.
“Letters of investigation and invitations were dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant General of the Federation, and senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NELFUND were invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.
“Preliminary findings revealed a significant gap in the financial records of the disbursement process. While the Federal Government reportedly released N100 billion for the scheme, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving an unaccounted sum of N71.2 billion.”
While giving the breakdown of the NELFUND’s records, Bakare said the ICPC’s strength of investigation revealed that the total money received by NELFUND as of March 19, 2024, was N203.8 billion.
“The breakdown showed that N10 Billion was an allocation from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, N50 billion was from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, N71.9B was from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, while another N71.9 billion was also from the same Tertiary Education Trust Fund,” the ICPC official told journalists.
According to him, responses received by the commission were critically analyzed, and interviews were conducted with the concerned individuals.
He noted that the ICPC, however, found that the total amount disbursed to institutions from inception to date is about N44,200,933,649.00, while a total of 299 institutions have benefited from the funds released.
“To date, the total amount disbursed to 299 beneficiary institutions stands at approximately N44.2 billion, with 293,178 students having benefited from the fund.
“The ICPC confirmed that a clear case of discrepancies has been established in the administration of the student loan scheme and announced that its investigation will now extend to beneficiary institutions and individual student recipients.”
He said the commission would from time-to-time provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
“Comprehensive investigations into the alleged discrepancies surrounding the disbursement of students’ loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has commenced,” he stated.
Afrobeat superstar Davido has condemned Nigeria’s government and leadership, calling them the worst he has ever experienced, while praising the entertainment industry for reshaping the country’s global image.Travel guides
Speaking in a recent interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, the award-winning singer expressed disappointment in Nigeria’s leadership but took pride in the achievements of the creative sector.
“I am happy that entertainment switched the narrative. We [Nigerians] don’t have the best leaders. We have the worst governments,” Davido stated.
He emphasized the role of music and culture in enhancing Nigeria’s reputation abroad, noting a surge in foreign interest in the country.
Travel guides “The music and entertainment industry, in general, has impacted our country’s image abroad positively. The entertainment industry is also attracting tourists to the country,” he said. “Last December, there were more Americans than Nigerians in Lagos. I was like, what are you all doing here?”
Davido also noted the growing influence of African creatives on the global stage.
“It is not just music, it is the culture as a whole. If you go to Paris Fashion Week, about 80 per cent of the models are Africans, the same with the creative directors. It’s impressive.”
Speaking on Trust Television’s 30 Minutes programme, the former Kebbi South senator challenged the widespread belief that public office is a guaranteed path to wealth.
Aformer senator, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, has said that some lawmakers in Nigeria become so financially strained after leaving the National Assembly that they struggle to pay their children’s school fees.
Speaking on Trust Television’s 30 Minutes programme, the former Kebbi South senator challenged the widespread belief that public office is a guaranteed path to wealth.
“Mannir, I am giving you this assignment. Go back to your constituency or anywhere you know of people occupying public office, especially the House of Representatives and the Senate. Tell me one Senator or one member of the House of Representatives who had nothing to do before he joined politics and who, after leaving politics after one year, can even afford the children’s school fee,” Na’Allah said.
He noted that the reality inside the National Assembly differs significantly from what Nigerians imagine.
“Some of them ventured into the National Assembly believing that it is a place to make money, only to discover that they are going to end up poorer,” he added.
When the host suggested that most lawmakers appear well-off, Na’Allah countered, “Well, that is how you see it, and that is why I am giving you this assignment.
And I hope by the time you finish that assignment, you will return to this forum and tell Nigerians what your results have shown.”
“I am not here to make a case for the legislature,” he continued, “but I am telling you based on my honest understanding of how that place is run. The perception that the public has is completely at variance with the reality of what is happening there.”
He further explained that many lawmakers cling to their seats, hoping for more powerful positions in future.
“It is an issue of hope. You are hoping that tomorrow I might be the Senate President, I might be this. That may be the reason, but not to remain as an ordinary Senator.”
Na’Allah, who served as deputy majority leader in the 8th Senate, lost his 2023 re-election to Garba Maidoki, who scored 75,232 votes against his 70,785.
LegendHero: Lol Tinubu party in power and yet Buhari government changed the Naira on the eve of election and induced fuel scarcity? You no see how Obi and Atiku support the Naira change back then because they know it favors opposition?
You make me laugh. If your argument is that Tinubu was able to rig because his party was in power in 2023, why will he not be able to rig now that he himself is the president?
PHOTOS: Sanusi hosts El-Rufai at palace Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, paid a courtesy visit to Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, the 16th Emir of Kano, at his palace on Monday.
The monarch, who was all smiles welcomed his visitor who was accompanied by associates.
Jesutega Onokpasa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says President Bola Tinubu has “failed woefully” based on the performance of his administration.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, Onokpasa warned that Tinubu may end up being a one-term president if he did not improve in his performance.
Onokpasa also wondered why Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, who he referred to as his cousin, defected to the APC.
The APC chieftain said the governor’s defection to the ruling party does not add any value to the APC or the state.
Onokpasa added that the ruling party should not focus on the defection of opposition politicians into its fold but on good governance.
He said the defections of opposition leaders to the APC negate the principles of democracy.
“It is not a question of people defecting to our party. It is a question of are we ruling well? In that sense, we failed woefully,” he said.
“President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully to rule well, provide food for Nigerians, and give succour in these hard times.
“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently defected to our party, is actually my cousin. I don’t have the slightest idea why he defected to our party. He did not inform me. I wish him well.
“I don’t think it has value to him, our party, or Delta state.
“The whole idea of packing people into our party—that is not democracy. The interesting thing is that you must always have opposition because people must disagree. The idea of a one-party state is simply unattainable.
“There must be disagreement. Even in our party, we disagree.
“I can tell you for free that at the rate we are going, all these things (defections) won’t help us in 2027. If we are not careful, Bola Tinubu will end up as a one-term president. Quote me anywhere.”
Emerging intelligence suggests President Bola Tinubu is formulating strategies to dismantle northern political unity ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
According to Umar Sani, former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 presidential campaign, the plans are aimed at fracturing the North’s growing political alliance, which is seen as a potential threat to Tinubu’s second-term ambitions.
In his words:
“As the race toward the 2027 presidential election gathers momentum, emerging intelligence suggests a calculated strategy aimed at dismantling the northern political hegemony. This approach seeks to revive old fault lines, using them as instruments to fracture the opposition’s coalition and destabilise any unified attempt to challenge the status quo,” he stated.
At the heart of this manoeuvre is an attempt to penetrate the North and weaken its growing political alliance, an alliance that increasingly appears poised to resist President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term,” he added.
According to Sani, sources revealed that the strategies under consideration include engineering a divide between the Hausa and Fulani communities using the classic divide-and-rule tactic to undermine political cohesion, exploiting religious differences between Northern Christians and Muslims, manipulating political appointments to stoke regional resentment, and forging an alliance with former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in a bid to secure the critical Kano vote.
He, however, noted that the attempt to create a rift between the Hausa and Fulani is unlikely to succeed, citing centuries of intermarriage and a shared heritage that have made the two groups inseparable.
He also dismissed the possibility of using Northern Christians as a counterweight, arguing that trust cannot be easily regained after the fallout from Tinubu’s controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election.
While Sani acknowledged that manipulating political appointments could have some impact, given the harsh economic conditions and the importance of political patronage in the region, he maintained that the strategy carries significant risks.
He added that the Kwankwaso alliance may also fall flat, noting that Kano’s politically sophisticated electorate would resist any effort to use their votes as bargaining chips.
According to him, Kwankwaso’s influence would be decisive only if he were directly on the ballot, rather than acting as a proxy for another politician’s ambitions.
He warned that the North would not easily be divided or manipulated, stating that the coming months would reveal whether these moves would achieve their intended goals.
At least 28 people, including 20 miners, were killed on Thursday during a series of coordinated attacks by armed bandits in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attacks, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., targeted the communities of Gobirawa Chali, Damaga, and Lugga. Residents described the assaults as sudden and brutal, with gunmen reportedly arriving in large numbers.
In Gobirawa Chali, the worst-hit village, over 20 miners were killed when heavily armed assailants opened fire at a mining site.
Reuters quoted a resident, Ismail Hassan, as saying that “gunmen in their hundreds opened fire on miners on Thursday afternoon and a firefight ensued,” leading to numerous fatalities.
INSECURITY: How vigilante groups protect communities, create problems Another local, Isah Ibrahim, confirmed that 21 bodies were recovered after the incident, with several others injured.
Amnesty International, in a statement issued Friday, confirmed the attack, stating that the assailants went door-to-door in Gobirawa Chali, killing more than 20 people.
In Damaga, five people were reportedly killed, while three others lost their lives in a simultaneous assault on Lugga.
A resident of Lugga recounted how the attackers surrounded the village, fired indiscriminately, and rustled livestock.
“They also stormed Damaga where they killed five persons. We don’t know the motive behind the latest attacks because the last time bandits attacked our community was over a year ago,” he said.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, another local source noted that the casualty figure could have been much higher if not for the swift response of the Nigerian military.
Ground troops and a fighter jet reportedly arrived during the attack, engaging the bandits in a firefight that led to the deaths of several of the assailants.
The attacks have once again highlighted the persistent insecurity in Zamfara State, where banditry has plagued many rural communities despite ongoing military operations in the region.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar said he was yet to be briefed about the latest attacks.
The opposition coalition led by by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the immediate past Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday hit back at the Presidency, saying the defection of Delta Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa and several prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party did not come as a surprise.
A key stakeholder of the coalition and former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Salihu Lukman disclosed this in a statement made available to The PUNCH in Abuja.
Lukman was reacting to Monday’s trolling by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who mocked Atiku, saying his coalition will crumble following the defection of his key allies to the APC.
“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated.
“Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again,” he stated.
Onanuga’s scathing remark was a follow-up to a similar post by a fellow presidential aide, Tunde Rahman, who also derided the PDP, describing the development as “the biggest shocker ever” for Atiku.
Rahman argued that with the PDP governors now aligning with President Bola Tinubu, the coalition was “dead on arrival.”
But Lukman, a chieftain in the coalition kicked, saying the presidential spokesmen were just humouring themselves.
The politician stated that aside from Okowa and Oborevwori, they are equally aware a few other governors are likely to jump ship.
He said, “First, I think anybody who says this is unexpected will only be deceiving himself. The signals have been there, that some governors are going to decamp. It’s not just one but some governors. The PDP is clearly a shadow of its own self. Although we acknowledge there are people and leaders in the PDP who are optimistic they can rescue the party.
“But if you remember when the governors issued a statement against the coalition, what was our response? Our response was that many of them are working for Asiwaju. Shortly after that, you saw the statement from Akwa Ibom, a,nd of cour,se the Delta governor. It’s not only him. If you check the comments, there are many more being expected.
“On the one hand, people who genuinely worry for the country are expressing fear about a one-party state. On the other hand, the government and APC are jubilating. Look, the beauty of democracy is about competition.
The whole initiative to begin to negotiate the coalition is to ensure that in 2027, Nigerians are presented with options.”
While saying the defection has been long foresaw, Lukman vowed that the opposition figures in the coalition will not be distracted.
The North-West politician also urged the PDD governors and leaders to reconsider their stance on not joining the coalition to form a merger ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“We have gone far and what has happened in terms of some governors and leaders moving into the APC is not going to distract us at all. Not long from now, the full detail of the coalition will be unveiled to Nigerians including the structure and the strategy in terms of how the election will be contested will be clarified.
We want to correct all the mistakes and shortcomings from the Buhari administration to the Asiwaju administration. We want to restore the aspiration of Nigerians by producing leaders and greater country we will be proud of. That is what the coalition is all about. If anybody sees it differently, we are going to correct all of that.
“If we are talking of correcting the mistake of Buhari, correcting the mistake of Asiwaju, we don’t want to produce a government that will be seen as a sectional government. We want to produce a government that Nigerians will be proud of. We don’t want to produce another set of emperors,” he assured
Ganduje welcomes Kawu Sumaila, other NNPP defectors
A few hours after Lukman’s statement, the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje officially welcomed key political figures who recently defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the APC.
The high-profile decampees include Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, who represents Kano South Senatorial District, and Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, the member representing Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal Constituency.
Others received into the APC fold are former Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Baffa Bichi; former federal lawmaker representing Danbatta/Makoda, Hon. Badamasi Ayuba; Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo; Rt. Hon. Zubairu Hamza Masu; Hon. Muhammad Diggol; Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada; and Hon. Abbas Sani Abbas.
Captured in a series of photographs, the event showed Dr. Ganduje warmly receiving the former NNPP stalwarts, symbolizing their official integration into the APC. The images reflect a celebratory and unified atmosphere as the defectors were seen exchanging handshakes and holding the party’s flags.
Political observers note that the defections were prompted by longstanding grievances within the NNPP, particularly complaints of marginalization and internal party injustice allegedly orchestrated by NNPP leader, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
These and other undisclosed reasons led to the mass exodus of these key figures into what they described as the “blessed fold” of the APC.
PDP kicks as Osun NNPP chairman predicts more defections
Meanwhile, Osun State chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, has predicted that more people would dump Peoples Democratic Party before the governorship poll.
His prediction comes in the wake of the defection of the lawmaker representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Wole Oke,
Odeyemi in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, specifically said those that would dump PDP are those that love progress of Osun, noting that people would no longer sit back and watch helplessly observing governance degenerating to “mere entertainment.”
Reacting, the PDP dismissed Odeyemi’s claim as a mere wishful thinking, adding that those seeking Adeleke’s exit are people that want political patronage at the expense of well-being of the general populace.
“In contrast to his wishful thinking however, the only people who have left the party so far are are those with parochial interests, those expecting His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke to let loose and open the state vault for their personal greed,” PDP statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji read partly.
Odeyemi, who held firmly that people with conscience would be worried about Osun under Adeleke’s leadership, absolved Oke of any blame for dumping PDP.
He further said, “Nobody with right conscience will believe things are going well in terms of governance since the Governor Adeleke led administration took over the affairs of Osun. More people will dump PDP in the state.”
He continued, “Governor Ademola Adeleke surrounded himself with bootlickers that find it difficult to look up to him and advice him rightly. Some of them do not even care about the development of Osun. All they do is to praise-sing Adeleke in his presence and tell people another different things behind him.
“When a person in power lacks good advisers, he will assume to have been doing all things rightly. You don’t around yourself with mediocre and expect positive result. These bootlickers see everybody as an enemy of the government and respond immaturely to criticism about governance, whereas their low-life wouldn’t allow them to realise on time that failure of the leader spells doom for them.
“I won’t blame Honourable Wole Oke for leaving PDP, one thing that is very sure is that before the year runs out, more people with conscience will leave that party because many of them are presently suffering and smiling, they are just buying time. I wish the party knows what is about to befall them. Those that will leave the party openly are few compared to those that will stay to destabilize the party in the state.”
The PDP would not however take any of Odeyemi’s claims, saying contrary to Odeyemi’s “Wishful thinking however, the only people who have left the party so far are those with parochial interests, those expecting His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke to let loose and open the state vault for their personal greed.
“Anyone who cited Hon Wole Oke to line his thoughts of negative wish for osun PDP, is actually one of those without conscience. You cannot mitigate or conscienciously justify someone exciting a platform that has practically served your life, since early 30s and now almost 60 years of age and tell me you have any modicum of conscience. So, if Wole Oke happens to be Tosin’s mentor as a chronic political trader, then the guess of reasonable members of the public is as good as mine.
“His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke will continue to stand firm in service to the good people of the state and that he will continue to be true to his nature as an unrepentant happy soul, away from deceitful expectations of inconsequential elements like Tosin Odeyemi and his one man platform.”
PDP will lose my Federal Constituency in next polls -Wole Oke
In a related development, Oke also predicted huge electoral defeat for the PDP at the next election in the state.
Oke, who recently dumped PDP stated this while speaking on a radio station in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Thursday, said the current state political office holders from the two local government areas that made up the Federal Constituency dont have the capacity to win elections for PDP.
The federal lawmaker, who cited unfair treatment from the PDP and the refusal by the Governor, Ademola Adeleke to fix critical infrastructure in the Federal Constituency made him to exit his former part, added that the project he initiated while PDP was controlling federal government had been stalled since All Progressives Congress took over reign at the Federal.
Asked to react to a claim that PDP would not miss him, Oke said he had wont five elections and only lost once, and predicted a crushing defeat for his former party in the Federal Constituency.
“I don’t argue with people on such issues. You wait until we conduct our next election. I will be able to give you statistics of what will happen in the next election.
“I give you, for example, PDP will not get 500 votes out of close to 9000 votes in Esa-Oke. Take that to the bank. I can also tell you the results in other places. In Ikeji Arakeji, Owenna, Dagbaja, Ipetu-Ijesa, mark my words, PDP will struggle to get 1,000 votes if they are on the ballot. Write it down and if the statistics fail, I will quit politics,” Oke said.
He also said before leaving PDP, he sought opinion of his constituents, who approved his move, adding that, “I decided to leave the PDP. I was part of the foundation member.
“I contested and won elections back to back in the party but after making consultations with my people, with my constituents, in the last two weeks, I have had series of meetings to appraise the situation of our party at the state and national level, we came to the realisation that it is time to quit.”
Defections in other states won’t affect Plateau PDP, says party chair
In Plateau, the Chairman of the State PDP, Chris Hassan, has expressed conviction that the party’s strength and credibility in the state will not be affected by defections in other states.
Hassan, who addressed a press conference in Jos on Thursday, urged party members to remain calm and resolute, emphasizing that defections are not new in political party processes.
His appeal came barely 24 hours after Oborevwori, Okowa, and all members of the PDP structure in Delta State defected to the APC.
Hassan commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his outstanding leadership and good governance, highlighting the governor’s developmental strides, equity, justice, and service to the people.
According to him, Mutfwang’s achievements in less than two years are truly remarkable and a testament to the solid trust and satisfaction in the leadership and direction of the party.
He said “We are deeply grateful in the support of our party faithful and the good people of Plateau state that have reposed confidence in us .We are aware of a lot of threats of defection across some states .We have noted some isolated cases of defections by a few party members to our political parties.
“Let me therefore urge all party members to remain calm and resolute .Defections are not new in political party processes of this nature .However ,we are confident that the strength and credibility of the PDP that is founded on the struggles of our Plateau people.
“We assure the leadership of our party to consolidate on our gains .We will continue to provide the needed platform for the aspiration of our people .Everything is under control and better good days still lies ahead for us.”
The PDP chairman strongly condemned the recent attacks by armed herdsmen in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas that claimed any lives in the past two weeks
Hassan also commended the governor’s swift response and the proactive efforts of the state security agencies.
“We strongly commend and support the governor’s call for communities to organize and coordinate local security measures in collaboration with neighbouring communities .
“This grassroots driven approach is a proactive and inclusive strategy that recognizes the peculiar security challenges of each locality. It reflects the leadership concern and well-being of his people.
“Indeed our governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang has once again demonstrated that he is a leader who loves and stands firmly for his people”, he stated
Continuing, Hassan acknowledged the coordinated efforts of the military, which noted have already produced results in dislodging the militia from some areas.
The PDP chairman urged all Plateau residents to continue supporting the government, stay vigilant, and remain committed to keeping Plateau the state of their dreams under Governor Mutfwang’s capable leadership.
He said, “The PDP remains the party of our people and for the people .Together ,we shall continue to March towards greater heights of our beloved state . May God bless us all.”
No cause for alarm, we will reposition PDP – Saraki
A former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has also reacted to the PDP misfortune in Delta State, saying the opposition party wouldn’t be discouraged or distracted.
While assuring that the PDP will rise from the temporary setback and work assiduously to reposition the party, the former number three urged those who are still nursing an ambition to abandon the party to quietly exit without making a fuss about it.
He said, “I have been inundated with phone calls from leaders and members of our party as well as various youths who have been active in promoting democracy and good governance in our country. Many of the callers want to know what my reaction is to the defection of top PDP leaders in Delta State and its impact on our party.
“My view is that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and let the rest of us who want to stay concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition that will provide a better alternative for the good people of Nigeria.
“I am convinced that it is important for all Nigerians to work for the sustenance of democracy. And to sustain democracy, there must be viable choices for people at every point. Also, there must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes.
“Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies. All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment and we can all work to rebuild the party.”
Saraki also warned against having a one-party system in the country.
According to him, a country with diverse cultures, languages and traditions cannot afford to head towards such a route.
“A one-party state as being disingenuously designed by some people will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and highly diversified society like ours. It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless.
“Therefore, it is in the interest of Nigeria and the survival of our democracy for the opposition to be vibrant and strong enough with the capacity to replace the ruling party at any point. Thus, my charge to our party members is that the PDP is merely experiencing a rebirth.
“This development has vindicated the stance of people like me who have decided to remain silent and watch events unfold. I have seen that there was no sincerity with supposed leaders of the opposition. One was not sure of the next person one was talking to,” he stated.
The former Senate president appealed to the party’s supporters and loyalists not to engage in the blame game or go after perceived traitors for the dwindling fortune of the PDP.
The Waziri of Ilorin also stated that it will be irresponsible for any leader to admit being pressured into taking the plunge in the manner the Delta governors and his supporters did.
He said, “My appeal to PDP members nationwide is that we should know that the sustenance of democracy is not a sprint. Rather, it is a marathon. It is not a knock-out football match series. It is a league. 24 hours is a long time in politics and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months.
“We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party. It is not necessary at this point to lament why they left. Our party members should also refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party. That would be a lazy approach. They are playing politics to win elections. It is our responsibility as party members to ignore their antics and seize the moment and momentum to make our party stronger and better.
“Our numerous party members should know that the PDP is better with fewer members who are loyal, sincere, determined, dedicated, and committed to its ideas, ideals, and progress than to have so many who will identify with us in the afternoon and be romancing the ruling party in the night.
“We still have about two years before the next election. That is a long time in politics. We have enough time to brace up to the challenge. There is nothing that prevents us from getting some governors from the other parties to join our ranks. My appeal to our young party members is that this defection is just a mere challenge to us to further mobilize and put our house in order. Also, our women’s wing should seize the opportunity to help in the rebuil
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